JP2017024647A - Vehicle lighting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle lighting apparatus capable of effectively supporting a driver in getting on and off a vehicle and operating a door at night, and making great contributions to vehicle crime prevention.SOLUTION: A control unit 10 of a vehicle 100 locates a current position of a corresponding wireless communication machine 200 by wireless communication with the wireless communication machine 200, and controls an illumination unit 14 illuminating a surface from a peripheral portion of a door 101 of the vehicle 100 to illuminate the located current position and the surface around the located current position as an illumination region 140. The illumination region 140 thereby moves in response to movement of the located current position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular illumination device that illuminates the feet of a user outside a vehicle.

  In recent years, as in Patent Document 1, there is a vehicular illumination device that illuminates a user's feet with a vehicle exterior illumination device when the user approaches the vehicle. Thereby, the user can receive lighting support when getting on and off the vehicle at night.

JP 2009-67139 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle lighting device that can more efficiently support getting on and off a vehicle at night and door operation than before and can greatly contribute to crime prevention of the vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

A vehicular lighting device for solving the above problems is
An illumination unit provided to illuminate the ground surface from the periphery of the door of the vehicle and capable of changing the illumination area on the ground surface;
Position information acquisition means for acquiring current position information of the wireless communication device by wireless communication with a wireless communication device corresponding to the vehicle;
Current position specifying means for specifying the current position of the wireless communication device based on the acquired current position information;
Illumination area determination means for determining the illumination area based on the identified current position and changing the illumination area to be determined according to the movement of the identified current position;
Illumination executing means for causing the illumination unit to illuminate the determined illumination area;
It is characterized by providing.

  According to the above configuration, the user's position is specified more specifically, instead of illuminating the area by detecting that a person has entered the illumination area corresponding to each illumination unit as in the past. This makes it possible to move the illumination area in such a way as to track the user. For this reason, when the user approaches the vehicle, the area near the current position of the user is illuminated. Therefore, the user can always obtain the optimum illumination, and can get on and off the vehicle at night more smoothly than before. . On the other hand, when a suspicious person who stole a wireless communication device approaches the vehicle, the surrounding area is illuminated around the current position of the suspicious person. To do. That is, since the illumination unit follows the suspicious person like a searchlight, the suspicious person can be given up approaching the vehicle.

The block diagram which shows one Example of the illuminating device for vehicles of this indication. The 1st figure explaining the state by which the user's step was illuminated by the vehicle illuminating device of FIG. The vehicle side view which shows an example of the illumination part of the illuminating device for vehicles of FIG. The figure which showed the vehicle periphery area | region in which the two-way communication with the vehicle of FIG. 1 and a radio | wireless communication apparatus is possible. The 2nd figure explaining the state by which the user's step was illuminated by the vehicle illuminating device of FIG. The flowchart which shows the flow of the radio | wireless collation process performed by the vehicle side. The flowchart which shows the flow of the radio | wireless collation process performed by the key side. The flowchart which shows the flow of the step lighting control performed by the vehicle side. The figure explaining the state which illuminated the step of the user who is moving with the illuminating device for vehicles of FIG. The figure explaining the illumination state when the moving user of FIG. 9 stops. The figure explaining the state which forcedly lighted the illumination part by operation of the radio | wireless communication apparatus in the vehicle illuminating device of FIG. The flowchart which shows the flow of a process by the side of the key at the time of operation being performed by the radio | wireless communication apparatus in the vehicle lighting device of FIG. The flowchart which shows the flow of the process by the side of a vehicle when operation is made to the radio | wireless communication apparatus in the illuminating device for vehicles of FIG. The figure explaining the state by which the user's step was illuminated by the 1st modification of the vehicle illuminating device of FIG. The figure explaining the state by which the user's step was illuminated by the 2nd modification of the vehicle illuminating device of FIG. The vehicle side view which shows the illumination part in the 3rd modification of the illuminating device for vehicles of FIG. The block diagram which shows the illuminating device for vehicles of FIG. The figure explaining the state by which the user's step was illuminated by the vehicle illuminating device of FIG. The figure explaining the state which illuminated the step of the user who is moving with the vehicle illuminating device of FIG. The figure explaining the illumination state when the moving user of FIG. 19 stops.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicular lighting device 1 according to the present embodiment is configured in such a manner that a vehicle 100 and a portable radio communication device 200 communicate wirelessly. In the vehicle 100, with respect to the control unit 10, a transmission unit (for example, a VLF (Very low frequency) band signal transmission unit) 11, a reception unit (for example, a UHF (Ultra High Frequency) band signal reception unit) 12, and a storage unit 13, the illumination part 14, the illumination drive part 15, the door locking / unlocking control part 16, and the door locking / unlocking detection part 17 are communicably connected.

  The control unit 10 relates to wireless verification processing performed in a form involving well-known bidirectional wireless communication for locking and unlocking the doors 101 and 102 performed with the wireless communication device 200, and vehicle exterior lighting processing described later. It is a well-known ECU (electronic control unit) that executes control, and has a CPU, ROM, and RAM. The storage unit 13 stores various programs and data necessary for such control.

  The transmitter 11 includes an antenna 11a provided in the driver's seat door 101, an antenna 11b provided in the passenger's seat door 101, and an antenna provided inside the rear bumper 103 or the trunk door 102 (that is, in the trunk room). 11c is connected to the antenna 11d in the passenger compartment. The transmission unit 11 generates a signal of a very long wave band (also referred to as a VLF band) according to a signal input from the control unit 10, and transmits a radio wave corresponding to the generated signal from each of the antennas 11a to 11d.

  In this embodiment, 22 kHz is used as the transmission frequency of each of the antennas 11a to 11d. Receivable areas 1400a to 1400d of radio waves transmitted from the antennas 11a to 11d are formed around the vehicle 100 (see FIG. 4). A region where three or more of the receivable regions 1400a to 1400d overlap is a position detection region 1400 to be described later in which the current position of the wireless communication device 200 is detected. Note that the position detection area 1400 in the present embodiment is an area within about 3 m from the vehicle 100, but can be an area within about 6 m at maximum if the radio wave has a transmission frequency of 22 kHz.

  The receiving unit 12 is connected to the antenna 12a and is a tuner that performs processing such as amplification and demodulation on a received signal in, for example, a high frequency band (also referred to as UHF band).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the illumination unit 14 is a plurality of illumination units that are provided around the door of the vehicle 100 and illuminate the feet of the user outside the vehicle. Each lighting unit 14 can be switched in its lighting state by the control unit 10, whereby the illumination area 140 (see FIG. 2) on the ground surface to be illuminated can be changed. The illumination unit 14 can be provided below the left and right doors 101 of the vehicle 100, for example. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lighting unit 14 according to the present embodiment is provided on the lower panel (so-called side skirt) 104 on the lower side of the left and right doors 101 of the vehicle 100. The light source devices 14 are provided one by one. Here, the light source device 14 is an LED (light emitting diode) device. Furthermore, the light source device 14 here has a plurality of LED chips having different emission colors, and is configured so that the LED chips of each color can be lit independently. The light source device 14 here has an LED chip that emits red and blue light.

  The illumination driving unit 15 switches and drives each illumination one on and off, and is provided so as to illuminate a horizontal direction parallel to the ground surface 1000 in this embodiment.

  The door locking / unlocking control unit 16 has an actuator for locking and unlocking the doors 101 and 102 (reference numeral 102 is a trunk door) of the vehicle 100, and each actuator is controlled based on a control command from the control unit 10. Is driven, the doors 101 and 102 of the vehicle 100 are locked and unlocked.

  The door locking / unlocking detection unit 17 includes a switch that detects whether the doors 101 and 102 of the vehicle 100 are locked or unlocked. The door locking / unlocking detection unit 17 outputs a signal indicating the locking state of each door 101 of the vehicle 100 and the locking state of the trunk door 102 of the vehicle to the control unit 10.

  Wireless communication device 200 is a key (so-called smart key) corresponding to vehicle 100. For the control unit 20, a transmission unit (for example, a UHF band signal transmission unit) 21, a reception unit (for example, a VLF band signal reception unit) 22, a storage unit 23, various operation units 24, and RSSI (that is, a reception signal) Strength) value determination unit 26 is connected.

  The control unit 20 executes a control related to a well-known bidirectional wireless verification process for locking and unlocking the doors 101 and 102 between the vehicle 100 and an exterior lighting process described later. The storage unit 23 stores various programs and data necessary for these processes, and also stores a verification code (that is, an encryption key code) required for the bidirectional wireless verification process. The control unit 20 of this embodiment is a known computer that includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM.

  The transmission unit 21 generates a UHF band signal in accordance with the signal input from the control unit 20, and transmits a radio wave corresponding to the generated signal from each antenna 21a.

  The receiving unit 22 is connected to the antenna 22a, and is a tuner that performs processing such as amplification and demodulation on a received signal in the VLF band, for example.

  The RSSI value determination unit 26 is connected to the reception unit 22 and detects the received electric field strength (that is, the strength of the radio wave) of the signal received by the reception unit 22. In the present embodiment, the receiving unit 22 and the RSSI value determining unit 26 are configured as one receiving IC 25. The RSSI value determination unit 26 outputs, as an RSSI value, an RSSI voltage whose level increases as the received electric field strength of the signal received by the receiving unit 22 increases.

  The exterior lighting process executed by the control unit 10 of the vehicle 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In S1, the control unit 10 of the vehicle 100 sends a periodic search signal for periodically searching for the wireless communication device 200, which is a key corresponding to the vehicle 100, to the transmission unit 11, and the antennas 11a, 11b, and 11c outside the vehicle. Wirelessly output at a predetermined cycle. Then, in S2, the control unit 10 enters a reception waiting state for a response signal to the periodic search signal. The control unit 20 of the wireless communication device 200 existing in the position detection area 1400 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 (in the present embodiment, within about 3 m from the vehicle 100) performs this search in S21 as shown in FIG. When the signal is wirelessly received by the receiving unit 22, a response signal (also referred to as a search response signal) for the search signal is wirelessly transmitted from the transmission unit 21 in S22.

  When the control unit 10 of the vehicle 100 wirelessly receives the response signal at the receiving unit 12 at S <b> 2, at S <b> 3, the wireless communication device 200 as a transmission source corresponds to the wireless communication with the transmission unit 11. A confirmation signal for confirming whether or not the wireless communication device 200 (ie, the wireless communication device registered in the vehicle 100) and a request signal for requesting the current position information from the wireless communication device 200 of the transmission source, Radio transmission is performed from the antennas 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d in the passenger compartment. In the present embodiment, after the confirmation signal is transmitted from the antennas 11a, 11b, and 11c outside the vehicle, the request signal is transmitted in a manner in which the transmission time is shifted from the antennas 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d outside the vehicle and the interior of the vehicle. Sent. Then, in S4, the control unit 10 enters a reception standby state for response signals to these signals. On the other hand, when the control unit 20 of the wireless communication device 200 wirelessly receives the confirmation signal and the request signal at S23 in S23 as shown in FIG. 7, it corresponds to the vehicle 100 at S24. A response signal including information indicating whether or not the wireless communication device 200 is received and the RSSI values when the request signals are received from the antennas 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d outside the vehicle and in the vehicle interior are transmitted. Wireless transmission from the unit 21.

  When the control unit 10 of the vehicle 100 wirelessly receives the response signal at the reception unit 12 at S4, the transmission source wireless communication device 200 determines the vehicle 100 at S5 based on the response signal wirelessly received at S4. It is determined whether or not the wireless communication device 200 corresponds to. When it is determined that the wireless communication device 200 corresponds to the vehicle 100, the control unit 10 transmits the antennas 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d in S6 based on the response signal wirelessly received in S4. The RSSI value of the request signal is acquired as current position information. By S1-S4, the control part 10 fulfill | performs the function as a positional information acquisition means. Then, in S <b> 7, the control unit 10 specifies the current position of the wireless communication device 200 based on each acquired RSSI value and stores it in the storage unit 13. In this embodiment, since the distribution information of the RSSI values of the radio waves transmitted from the antennas 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d in the position detection area 1400 is stored in the storage unit 13, the control unit 10 The current position of the wireless communication device 200 in the position detection area 1400 is specified based on each acquired RSSI value. Thereby, the control part 10 fulfill | performs the function as a present position specific | specification means. Since the method for identifying the current position based on the RSSI value is well known, further explanation is omitted.

  In this embodiment, the current position of the wireless communication device 200 is specified based on the RSSI value (that is, the received radio wave intensity) of signals transmitted from the antennas 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d. The current position of the wireless communication device 200 may be specified by another method involving wireless communication with the 200. For example, three or more receiving antennas 12a on the vehicle 100 side are prepared, a response signal for the periodic search signal is received by them, the arrival time until the response signal is received by the receiving unit 22 is measured, and the time difference is measured. A radio wave arrival time difference method that identifies the current position based on Furthermore, the method for specifying the current position of the wireless communication device 200 is not limited to the wireless communication such as the above-mentioned VLF, but 5GWi (registered trademark), UWB (Ultra Wide Band), Bluetooth 4.0 (registered). (Trademark) IBeacon (registered trademark) or the like may be used. In this case, it is necessary to provide a communication unit different from the transmission units 11 and 21 and the reception units 12 and 22 that perform the VLF communication on the vehicle 100 side and the wireless communication device 200 side.

  If the control unit 10 of the vehicle 100 determines in S8 that the current position of the wireless communication device 200 has been specified in S7, the foot illumination of FIG. 8 that illuminates the feet of the user carrying the wireless communication device 200 in S9. Execute control. Thereby, the control part 10 fulfill | performs the function as an illumination execution means.

  Note that the control unit 10 of the vehicle 100 causes the wireless communication device 200 to correspond to the vehicle 100 in S5 when the response signal of S2 or S4 is not received for the illumination unit 14 that is turned on in the step illumination control. If it is not determined that the wireless communication device 200 is registered (that is, if it is not determined that the wireless communication device 200 is registered in the vehicle 100), the light is turned off in S13.

  In addition, the control part 10 of the vehicle 100 will start time measurement, if foot lighting control is started in S9. Then, the control unit 10 determines whether or not a door locking operation or unlocking operation has been performed until a predetermined time elapses in S10. If the door is locked or unlocked within a predetermined time, the control unit 10 ends the present process while leaving the lighting unit 14 in the current lighting state. On the other hand, if the door is not locked or unlocked within a predetermined time, the control unit 10 determines in S11 whether the door has been opened before the predetermined time elapses. . When there is no door opening operation within the predetermined time, the control unit 10 turns off the illumination unit 14 in S13 and ends the process. On the other hand, if there is an opening operation, the control unit 10 determines in S12 whether or not a door closing operation has been performed after a predetermined time has elapsed since the door was opened. If there is a door closing operation within a predetermined time, the control unit 10 turns off the illumination unit 14 in S13 and ends the process. On the other hand, when there is no closing operation, the control part 10 maintains the illumination part 14 as it is, and complete | finishes this process.

  Note that the process of FIG. 6 is repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle.

  The step illumination control executed in S9 of FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The control part 10 of the vehicle 100 determines the illumination area | region 140 (refer FIG.9 and FIG.10) illuminated with the illumination part 14 in S91-S93. Thereby, the control part 10 fulfill | performs the function as an illumination area | region determination means. The control unit 10 of the present embodiment preliminarily uses the latest current position specified in S7 so that the illumination area 140 (see FIGS. 9 and 10) is set in the vicinity of the latest current position specified in S7. The illumination area 140 is determined according to the determined calculation process. Here, at least the illumination area 140 is determined as the area closest to the latest current position specified in S <b> 7 by the above calculation process.

  Specifically, first, the control unit 10 of the vehicle 100 specifies the current position of the wireless communication device 200 in S91. This has already been specified in S7.

  Next, the control part 10 acquires the moving direction information which can specify the moving direction 140C (refer FIG. 9) of the radio | wireless communication apparatus 200 in S92. Thereby, the control part 10 fulfill | performs the function as a moving direction information acquisition means. The moving direction information of the present embodiment is the latest current position specified in S7 and the current position specified in S7 before that (hereinafter referred to as the immediately preceding position). These are acquired by reading from the storage unit 13. In the present embodiment, the immediately preceding position is the current position of the immediately preceding position identified in S7 of the exterior lighting process performed immediately before the latest current position identified in S7 of the exterior illumination process currently being executed. Position. Then, in S93, the control unit 10 specifies the moving direction 140C of the wireless communication device 200 based on the acquired moving direction information. Thereby, the control part 10 fulfill | performs the function as a moving direction specification means. The moving direction 140C of the present embodiment is specified as a direction from the acquired previous position to the latest current position.

  Then, in S94, the control unit 10 determines the illumination area 140 based on the latest current position specified in S91 and the moving direction 140C specified in S93. Thereby, the control part 10 fulfill | performs the function as an illumination area | region determination means. As shown in FIG. 9, the illumination area 140 of the present embodiment includes a main area 140A closest to the current position specified in S91, and a moving direction 140C of the wireless communication device 200 specified in S93 with respect to the main area 140A. This is an area on the ground surface 1000 having a destination area 140B located on the side. Note that the ground surface (also referred to as the ground surface) 1000 is virtually defined as a horizontal plane that passes through the tire contact position of the vehicle 100, and the illumination area 140 is determined on the ground surface 1000.

  The main area 140 </ b> A of this embodiment is determined in a form selected from a plurality of predetermined areas 140 a around the outer periphery of the vehicle 100. The area 140 a is an area illuminated by the illumination unit 14 provided corresponding to each door 101. Each region 140a in the present embodiment is predetermined as a region that is within a predetermined distance (for example, within 1 m) in which a person can extend an arm to grasp the door handle with respect to each door 101. The predetermined distance can be adjusted by the type of light source of the illumination unit 14, the energizing current, and the like, and can be determined by adjusting the distance between 80 cm and 100 cm, for example. In this embodiment, the area 140a closest to the latest current position specified in S91 is determined as the main area 140A among the areas 140a and is illuminated by the corresponding illumination unit 14. If there is an area 140a including the latest current position specified in S91, the area 140a is determined as the main area 140A.

  The destination area 140B of the present embodiment is determined from a plurality of predetermined areas 140b around the outer periphery of the vehicle 100. Specifically, the movement destination area 140B of the present embodiment is an area adjacent to the determined main area 140A on the movement direction 140C side of the wireless communication device 200 identified in S93 around the outer periphery of the vehicle 100. 140b is determined and illuminated by the corresponding illumination unit 14.

  In the present embodiment, the area 140a that can be the main area 140A and the area 140b that can be the movement destination area 140B are defined as a common area, but the movement destination area 140B is defined wider than the main area 140A. Alternatively, the main area 140A may be defined wider than the destination area 140B. Further, in the present embodiment, these areas 140a, 140b and the unlocking execution area 1401 are also shown as common areas, but these areas 140a, 140b, 1401 may not be common areas. The unlocking execution area 1401 is a bi-directional operation performed between the vehicle 100 and the wireless communication device 200 in order to make the vehicle door 101 unlockable by a predetermined unlocking operation (that is, a release permission state). This is a vehicle outer peripheral region of the vehicle door 101 that enables wireless communication.

  Further, when the wireless communication device 200 is not moving, there is no moving direction. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, the destination area 140 </ b> B does not exist, so only the main area 140 </ b> A becomes the illumination area 140.

  Next, the control part 10 determines the illumination conditions at the time of illuminating with the illumination part 14 in S95-S98. Thereby, the control part 10 fulfill | performs the function as an illumination condition determination means. The illumination conditions of the present embodiment include brightness and color in the lighting state of the illumination unit 14.

  Specifically, the control unit 10 specifies the distance from the vehicle 100 to the wireless communication device 200 in S95. Thereby, the control part 10 fulfill | performs the function as a distance specific | specification means. In the present embodiment, the distance from the vehicle to the wireless communication device 200 can be specified by the response signal wirelessly received in S4. That is, since the RSSI value of the periodic search signal transmitted from each of the antennas 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d can be specified from the response signal wirelessly received in S4, the distance from the vehicle to the wireless communication device 200 is determined based on the RSSI value. Use as identifiable distance information. Therefore, the control part 10 is also fulfill | performing the function as a distance information acquisition means by S1-S4.

  Moreover, the control part 10 specifies whether the doors 101 and 102 of the vehicle 100 are locked in S97. Thereby, the control part 10 fulfill | performs the function as a lock state specific | specification means. In the present embodiment, the control unit 10 acquires detection information from the door locking / unlocking detection unit 17 and specifies the locked state of all the doors 101 and 102 of the vehicle 100 based on the detection information.

  Furthermore, the control part 10 determines the lighting color of the illumination part 14 based on the locked state of the doors 101 and 102 specified by S97 in S98. Thereby, the control part 10 fulfill | performs the function as a lighting color determination means. The lighting color of the present embodiment is determined so as to differ depending on whether the doors 101 and 102 are locked or unlocked. Here, red is determined when the locked state of all the doors 101 and 102 is specified in S97, and blue is determined when any unlocked state of any of the doors 101 and 102 is specified in S97.

  In S99, the control unit 10 causes the illumination unit 14 to illuminate the illumination area 140 on the ground surface 1000 determined in S94 according to the illumination conditions determined in S96 and S98.

  Specifically, in S99, the control unit 10 drives the illumination driving unit 15 so as to be able to illuminate the illumination area 140 on the ground surface determined in S94, and the corresponding illumination unit 14 in S96 and S98. Lights up under the determined lighting conditions (ie, lighting color and brightness). The illumination unit 14 that is turned on at this time is the illumination unit 14 corresponding to each of the main region 140A and the movement destination region 140B that form the illumination region 140.

  When the lighting unit 14 starts lighting in S99, the control in FIG. 8 is finished while the lighting state is continued, and the process returns to FIG. 6 to finish the processing in FIG.

  Note that the various areas shown in the drawings (position detection area 1400, receivable areas 1400a to 1400d, unlocking execution area 1401, etc.) are illustrated in a simplified manner and differ from the actual size and shape. .

  The above-described foot lighting control in FIG. 8 is repeatedly executed by the exterior lighting process in FIG. 6 that is repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle. For this reason, the illumination area 140 is updated each time the vehicle exterior illumination process of FIG. 6 is performed and the foot illumination control of S9 is performed, and moves according to the movement of the wireless communication device 200. Accordingly, the lighting unit 14 can continue lighting so as to track the user who has the wireless communication device 200. For example, when the user in FIG. 9 moves in the direction of the arrow 140C, the illumination area 140 moves following the user as shown in FIG.

  By the way, the illumination unit 14 can be forcibly turned on by operating the operation unit 24 of the wireless communication device 200 in the form shown in FIG. 11 regardless of the exterior illumination process of FIG. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, the operation unit 24 of the present embodiment includes a locking operation unit (so-called lock button) 24a, an unlocking operation unit (so-called unlock button) 24b, and an alarm output operation unit (so-called panic button) 24c. And having. The operation unit 24 of this embodiment is a known push button. The control unit 20 of the wireless communication device 200 executes the operation process shown in FIG. 12, and when the operation unit 24 is operated in S41, an operation command corresponding to the operated operation unit 24 in S42. Is transmitted together with the verification code stored in the storage unit 23 from the transmission unit 21.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the control unit 10 of the vehicle 100 wirelessly receives the operation command signal at the reception unit 12 at S <b> 31. In step S32, the control unit 10 acquires a verification code included in the signal, and executes verification processing for verifying the acquired verification code and the master code stored in the storage unit 13. Then, only when it is determined that the result of the matching match is obtained in S33, the control unit 10 executes a predetermined vehicle control corresponding to the operation command signal received wirelessly in S34, and performs this process. finish.

  That is, if the operation unit 24 operated by the wireless communication device 200 is the lock operation unit 24a, the control unit 10 controls the door locking / unlocking control unit 16 in S34 when the collation matching result is obtained. A command is given and the door 101 of the vehicle 100 is locked. If the operation unit 24 operated by the wireless communication device 200 is the unlock operation unit 24b, the control unit 10 controls the door locking / unlocking control unit 16 in S34 when the collation match result is obtained. The door 101 of the vehicle 100 is unlocked. If the operation unit 24 operated by the wireless communication device 200 is the alarm output operation unit 24c, the control unit 10 drives the illumination driving unit 15 in S34 when the result of the collation coincidence is obtained. The unit 14 is turned on.

  The lighting unit 14 is turned on by the alarm output operation unit 24c in accordance with a predetermined lighting condition. In this embodiment, all the LEDs 14 are lit for a predetermined time with a predetermined lighting color (for example, red). More specifically, all the LEDs 14 are lit in a blinking manner for a predetermined time. When the alarm output operation unit 24c is present in the wireless communication device 200, when a user finds a suspicious person approaching the vehicle 100, the exterior lighting is remotely turned on by operating the suspicious person. Can give a warning.

  If it is not determined in S33 that the collation match result has been obtained, the control unit 10 does not execute the vehicle control corresponding to the operation command signal received wirelessly in S35, and the process ends.

  In the wireless communication device 200, the alarm output operation unit 24c that receives a lighting operation for turning on the lighting unit 14 can be said to be a lighting operation unit. Moreover, since the transmission part 21 wirelessly transmits the operation command (namely, illumination command signal) which makes the illumination part 14 a lighting state, when the operation to the warning output operation part 24c is received, it functions as an illumination command transmission means. Plays. On the other hand, in vehicle 100, since receiving unit 12 wirelessly receives the operation command, it functions as an illumination command receiving unit. Further, when the control unit 10 wirelessly receives the operation command, even when some of the illumination units 14 perform illumination by the process of FIG. 6, as illustrated in FIG. Since it is in a predetermined lighting state, it functions as forced illumination means.

  In addition, the operation unit 24 of the wireless communication device 200 may include a door opening operation unit that opens the door 101 electrically, a door closing operation unit that closes the door 101 electrically.

  The above embodiments are merely examples. The present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications such as additions and omissions can be made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the claims.

  Hereinafter, other examples and modifications will be described. However, the same portions as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. It should be noted that the above embodiment and the following embodiment or the following modification can be combined as appropriate within a range that does not cause technical contradiction.

  In the above embodiment, the area 140a closest to the latest current position specified in S91 is determined as the main area 140A and illuminated by the corresponding illumination unit 14, but includes the latest current position specified in S91. Only the area 140a may be determined as the main area 140A. Further, the closest area 140a on the moving direction 140C side of the wireless communication device 200 specified in S93 with respect to the latest current position specified in S91 may be determined as the main area 140A. According to this structure, in the said Example, it can prevent that the area | region 140a on the opposite side to the moving direction 140C is illuminated as the main area | region 140A wastefully.

  Moreover, although the illumination part 14 of the said Example is provided so that the ground surface 1000 of the vehicle outside of the left and right door 101 of the vehicle 100 may be illuminated, as shown in FIG. For example, the rear bumper 103 (see FIG. 16) below the trunk door 102 may be provided to illuminate. Thus, similarly to the left and right illumination units 14 of the vehicle 100, the illumination unit 14 on the rear side of the vehicle can illuminate the ground surface 1000 according to the position of the wireless communication device 200 moving behind the vehicle 100. More specifically, areas 140a and 140b that become the main area 140A and the destination area 140B are also set behind the vehicle 100. The regions 140 a and 140 b behind the vehicle 100 are adjacent to the regions 140 a and 140 b corresponding to the left and right rear seat doors 101 around the outer periphery of the vehicle 100. For example, when the wireless communication device 200 moves from the vicinity of the rear seat door 101 to the rear of the vehicle, the control unit 10 sets the region 140a corresponding to the rear seat door 101 as the main region 140A, the trunk door 102, and the lower side thereof. The rear area 140b of the vehicle 100 corresponding to the bumper 103 is determined as the movement destination area 140B, and the illumination area 140 composed of the areas 140A and 140B can be illuminated by the corresponding illumination unit 14.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 15, the illumination part 14 of the said Example may also include the headlights 14H of the front end right and left so that the front outside the vehicle 100 can also be illuminated. Thereby, illumination of the ground surface 1000 according to the position of the radio | wireless communication apparatus 200 which moves ahead of the vehicle 100 with the illumination part (namely, headlight) 14H ahead of a vehicle is attained. More specifically, areas 140a and 140b to be the main area 140A and the destination area 140B are set in the headlights 14H and 14H on the front left and right of the vehicle 100, respectively. The respective areas 140 a and 140 b of the front left and right headlights 14 H and 14 H are adjacent to each other around the outer periphery of the vehicle 100. In addition, one of the areas 140a and 140b of each of the headlights 14H and 14H on the front left and right is an area adjacent to the areas 140a and 140b corresponding to the driver's seat door 101 around the outer periphery of the vehicle 100, and the other is This is an area adjacent to the areas 140 a and 140 b corresponding to the passenger seat door 101. For example, when the wireless communication device 200 moves from the vicinity of the passenger seat door (here, the front left door) 101 to the front of the vehicle, the control unit 10 defines the area 140a corresponding to the passenger seat door 101 as the main area 140A, The area 140b corresponding to the headlight 14 on the passenger seat side can be determined as the movement destination area 140B, and the illumination area 140 including them can be illuminated by the corresponding illumination unit 14.

  Moreover, although the said illumination part 14 is provided corresponding to each door 101,102 of the vehicle 100 corresponding to each door 101,102, another form may be sufficient. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the lighting unit 14 has one or more lighting devices (for example, LEDs) 14 arranged in the vehicle front-rear direction on panels (so-called side skirts) 104 on both the left and right doors of the vehicle 100. Can be provided. In this case, the illumination unit 14 is configured as an LED array 14 in which a plurality of LEDs 14L are arranged in the vehicle front-rear direction on both the left and right sides of the vehicle 100.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the illumination driving unit 15 includes not only a driving unit 15A that switches on and off the LEDs 14L but also a driving unit 15B that drives to change the illumination direction of the lighting unit 14. The drive unit 15B of the present embodiment can change the illumination direction of the illumination unit 14 that illuminates the vehicle exterior direction by changing the angle between a horizontal direction parallel to the ground surface 1000 and a direction directly below the horizontal direction. It is a possible actuator.

  Further, the foot lighting control executed in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the control unit 10 of the vehicle 100 specifies the current position of the wireless communication device 200 in S91. Next, in S92, the control unit 10 acquires movement direction information that can specify the movement direction of the wireless communication device 200, and in S93, based on the acquired movement direction information, the movement direction of the wireless communication device 200. Is identified. Thereby, the control part 10 fulfill | performs the function as a moving direction information acquisition means and a moving direction specification means. Note that the processing of S91 to S93 is the same processing as S91 to S93 of the embodiment already described.

  Further, in S94, the control unit 10 determines the illumination area 140 based on the latest current position specified in S91 and the movement direction specified in S93. Thereby, the control part 10 fulfill | performs the function as an illumination area | region determination means. The illumination area 140 is determined to be a current position peripheral area including the latest current position specified in S91 and the surrounding ground surface. As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the illumination area 140 includes a main area 140A within a predetermined range whose center is the current position specified in S91, and a wireless communication device at the current position from the main area 140A. This is an area on the ground surface 1000 that includes a movement destination area 140B that extends to the movement direction 140C side of 200. Note that the ground surface (also referred to as the ground surface) 1000 is virtually defined as a horizontal plane that passes through the tire contact position of the vehicle 100, and the illumination area 140 is determined on the ground surface 1000. The main region 140A here is a circular region having a diameter of 1.5 m. In addition, the movement destination area 140B of this embodiment is a semi-elliptical area on the moving direction side of the elliptical area whose major axis is the movement direction specified in S93 with the current position specified in S91 as the center. A region 140B excluding the main region 140A. In the present embodiment, the destination area 140B is determined so that the major axis of the elliptical area is 2 m and the minor axis is 1.5 m. However, these numerical values may be changed to other numerical values.

  Further, when the wireless communication device 200 is not moving, there is no moving direction, so there is no moving destination area 140B, and only the main area 140A becomes the illumination area 140 as shown in FIG.

  Next, the control part 10 determines the illumination conditions at the time of illuminating with the illumination part 14 in S95-S98. Thereby, the control part 10 fulfill | performs the function as an illumination condition determination means. Note that the processing of S95 to S98 is the same processing as S95 to S98 of the embodiment already described.

  Subsequently, in S99, the control unit 10 causes the illumination unit 14 to illuminate the illumination area 140 on the ground surface 1000 determined in S94 in accordance with the illumination conditions determined in S96 and S98.

  Specifically, in S99, the control unit 10 drives the illumination driving unit 15B so that the illumination area 140 on the ground surface determined in S94 can be illuminated, thereby changing the illumination direction of the illumination unit 14. . Here, the illumination driving unit 15B drives to vary the irradiation angle in the vertical direction outward of the vehicle so that the area on the ground surface 1000 illuminated by each LED 14L is closer to the vehicle 100. Further, the control unit 10 drives the illumination driving unit 15A to adjust the lighting color and brightness of each LED 14L to satisfy the conditions determined in S96 and S98. Then, the control unit 10 turns on the illumination unit 14. When the lighting unit 14 starts to be lit in S99, the present process is terminated while the lighting state continues, and the process returns to S9 in FIG.

  In addition, the illumination part 14 here is a row | line | column of several LED14L arranged in the vehicle front-back direction on both the right and left sides of a vehicle. However, in S99, not all of these LEDs 14L are turned on, but a predetermined number of LEDs (for example, 10 LED groups) 14L closest to the illumination area 140 determined in S94 are specified, and only the specified LEDs 14L are turned on. Let Thereby, the illumination area | region 140 can be moved to the vehicle front-back direction. That is, the movement of the illumination area 140 here is performed by switching the LED 14L that is lit in the front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle 100, and the movement in the perspective direction with respect to the vehicle 100 is executed by the illumination driving unit 15B.

  The foot lighting control here is repeatedly executed by the exterior lighting processing of FIG. 6 that is repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle. Thereby, the illumination part 14 can continue illumination like the spotlight which tracks the step of the user who possesses the radio | wireless communication apparatus 200. FIG. For example, when the user in FIG. 18 moves in the direction of the arrow 140C, the illumination area 140 moves following the user as shown in FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Illuminating device for vehicles 14 Illumination part 100 Vehicle 140 Illumination area 200 Wireless communication apparatus (key)
1000 Ground (surface)

Claims (9)

An illumination unit (14) provided to illuminate the ground surface (1000) from the door periphery of the vehicle (100) and capable of changing the illumination area (140) on the ground surface;
Position information acquisition means (10) for acquiring current position information of the wireless communication device (200) by wireless communication with the wireless communication device (200) corresponding to the vehicle (100);
Current position specifying means (10) for specifying the current position of the wireless communication device based on the acquired current position information;
An illumination area determination means (10) for determining the illumination area based on the identified current position and changing the illumination area to be determined in accordance with the movement of the identified current position;
Illumination execution means (10) for causing the illumination unit to illuminate the determined illumination area;
A vehicular lighting device (1) comprising:   The illumination area determining means (10) determines, as the illumination area, an area closest to the current position specified by the current position specifying means among predetermined areas around the vehicle (100). The vehicle lighting device (1) according to claim 1.   The vehicle illumination device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the illumination area determining means (10) determines the current position specified by the current position specifying means and the surrounding ground surface as the illumination area. Movement direction information acquisition means (10) for acquiring movement direction information of the wireless communication device (200);
A moving direction specifying means (10) for specifying the moving direction of the wireless communication device based on the acquired moving direction information;
The illumination area determination means (10) is specified based on the movement direction information with respect to the current position specified based on the current position information and a ground surface around the current position and the periphery of the current position. Both the ground surface on the moving direction side is determined as the illumination area (140), and the illumination area (140) is changed according to the movement of the specified current position and the change in the specified movement direction. The vehicle lighting device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Distance information acquisition means (10) for acquiring distance information from the vehicle (100) to the wireless communication device by wireless communication with the wireless communication device (200);
Distance specifying means (10) for specifying a distance from the vehicle (100) to the wireless communication device (200) based on the acquired distance information;
Illumination condition determining means (10) for determining an illumination condition so that the shorter the distance specified based on the distance information is, the brighter the light is;
The vehicle illumination device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the illumination execution means (10) causes the illumination unit to execute illumination according to the determined illumination condition. Lock state specifying means (10) for specifying whether the door (101, 102) of the vehicle (100) is locked;
An illumination condition determining means (10) for determining the illumination condition to be different between when the door (101, 102) is locked and when unlocked;
The vehicle illumination device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the illumination execution means (10) causes the illumination unit to execute illumination according to the determined illumination condition. The wireless communication device (200)
A lighting operation unit (24c) for receiving a lighting operation of the lighting unit (14);
An illumination command transmission means (21) for wirelessly transmitting an illumination command signal for lighting the illumination unit (14) when the lighting operation is received;
With
The vehicle (100)
Illumination command receiving means (12) for wirelessly receiving the illumination command signal;
When the illumination command signal is received, even when illumination by the illumination execution means (10) is being executed, forced illumination means (10) for setting all the illumination units (14) to a predetermined lighting state,
The vehicular illumination device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising:   The vehicle illumination device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the illumination unit (14) is provided below a door (101, 102) of the vehicle (100). The illumination unit (14) is configured as an LED row (14) in which a plurality of LEDs (14L) are arranged in the vehicle front-rear direction on both the left and right sides of the vehicle (100).
The illumination execution means (10) includes a predetermined number of LEDs closest to the wireless communication device (200) in the LED row (14) according to movement of the wireless communication device (200) in the vehicle front-rear direction. The vehicle lighting device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein (14L) is turned on and the remaining LEDs (14L) are turned off.

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